Erdogan calls for international recognition of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus at UN

During his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 22, 2026, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan formally called upon the international community to recognize the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' (TRNC). He insisted that the 'sovereign equality and equal international status' of Turkish Cypriots must be acknowledged, demanding an end to what he described as the inhumane isolation of the territory. Erdogan urged nations to establish formal political, diplomatic, and economic relations with the administration.

In addition to the Cyprus issue, the Turkish president addressed maritime disputes in the Aegean Sea and the eastern Mediterranean. He emphasized that these issues should be resolved through dialogue, good-neighborly relations, and adherence to international law. Erdogan also proposed the convening of an 'eastern Mediterranean conference' to facilitate common ground between regional leaders. While these statements reflect Turkey's long-standing policy, the Republic of Cyprus and Greece maintain their support for a settlement based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation, as established in previous UN frameworks. The speech also included a mention of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s inability to attend the assembly for the second consecutive year.